Clint Eastwood, Adriana Lima & Elton John Star In Super Bowl Ads

While the New York Giants were battling the New England Patriots on the field (the Giants won 21-17), another parallel struggle was happening off the field — the fight to create the most memorable Super Bowl commercial. At an average of $3.5 million a pop, the ads generally played it safe: big stars, nostalgic re-enactments, exploitations of the cute factor (read: puppies and babies).

Among the most buzzed-about was Clint Eastwood's "Halftime in America" ad for Chrysler, which has divided viewers who recognized it as either a step-up or a step-down from last year's Chrysler spot starring rapper Eminem. In this new ad, which aired during half-time, Eastwood gives a tough pep-talk to Americans. "This country can't be knocked out in one punch," the Million Dollar Baby director says in the video.

Watch the Chrysler ad here:

Another favorite comes from Pepsi, featuring Elton John as a tyrannical king who tempts performers with a Pepsi reward if they're able to entertain him. Enter American The X-Factor winner Melanie Amaro, who wows John and the crowd with her rendition of Otis Redding's "Respect." When John begrudgingly rewards Amaro's performance with a "Pepsi for you," Amaro stands up to him like a true Musketeer. "No, Pepsi for all," she says. Then Flava Flav for some reason appears.

Watch the Pepsi ad here:

Brazilian supermodel Adriana Lima really turned up the heat with a Teleflora.com ad. After sexily putting on a little black dress, stockings and red lipstick, Lima reminds her male viewers that Valentine's Day is coming up. "Give, and you shall receive," she says, tauntingly.

Watch the Teleflora.com ad here:

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